Year End

Just got back from our usual early new years party and in our PJ's waiting for midnight.

Four and a Half

The boys played four and a half good games the last couple of days. The first half of the championship game was horrendous and a second half resurrection was't enough to erase a 17 point deficit. They came to within 1 but ended up losing by 7. They played and lost as a team. They are looking forward to doing a lot f nothing tomorrow.

Jr. Scorers

Nicole gave scoring sheets and a tutorial to the little brothers of the 7th grade D1 Patriots. They seem to be having fun with it and they are good little troupers, watching their big brothers play 5 games in two days.

Ran the Table

We beat the Spartans 57-45 in our final regular tournament game and now need to beat Hanover again to win the championship. The team has really been on a roll and I hope they can keep it going.

3-0

We beat a very good Vienna team this morning to go 3-0 for the tournament. The kids played as a team again in a 58-52 victory. We are officially in the championship game but have one more team to play before that.

Good Basketball Day

The LMVSC Patriots rolled over Hanover in our second game tonight 68-52. This was really a great team effort with everyone contributing. Probably the best game I've seen them play all year. Sam had 10 points ,10 plus rebounds and 6 blocked shots while Dylan had 2 points 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Hanover was pretty big and the #1 guy in the picture had 28 points but we out passed, out shot and out team worked them for the win.

I do want to mention that they were nice people too. Not like Burke.

Holiday Tournament

We played and won the first game in the BRYC Holiday Tournament this afternoon against our least favorite team, Burke. That team really does have awful coaches and some classless parents. The Burke coach got a bench technical for the second time in the last 6 times we've played them and kids take after their parents with cheap shots up and down the court. They constantly target Sam with all manner of jersey grabs, elbows and trips. Stay classy Burke.

We did have our issues, particularly at the foul line and Sam was having a hard time getting his shots to fall. Dylan was great on defense, making a beautiful block late in the game. We won 41-38 but that was due to missing 75% of our free throws and Burke hitting a worthless 3 point buzzer beater at the end of the game. The games are being played a couple miles away at Edison High School so we get to head home and relax between games. Next up, Hanover at 6:15.

New Years Week

We are not going to see anything like this around here but it is supposed to get cooler tonight. 70 degrees today was not welcome to this winter lover.

Snow After All

It was a late visit snow but it sure was pretty this morning when we left. That beautiful snow turned into a near disaster at the airport. Nothing to do with snow or traffic but the MSP security lines were horrendous. They stretched from one end of the terminal to the other. Fortunately, so I thought, we all had Pre Check on our boarding passes, well, everyone but me. We stood in the Pre line for about 15 minutes only to find out that Nicole and the boys could go forward but I could not. I had to go to the 600 yard regular line. The three of them went through, figuring it would be easier for one person to find a seat on a later flight than four, while I went back to the long line. It took me around 45 minutes to pass the check point and another 15 minutes to get to the gate. I got on the plane with less than 10 minutes to spare. I was not a great start to the trip home but at least I'm not still at MSP.

Happy Festivus

It's a lazy Christmas Day here in Minnesota but we did get out for a little bit to shot some hoops and throw the football around. Snow arrives tonight, just in time for our trip home.

Ho Ho Ho

Miss Mae

Nice dinner and interesting play last night.

Sad Angel

We got a dusting of snow last night and Nicole created a pathetic little snow angel on the driveway before her run. A couple of inches of the white stuff may be on its way tomorrow.

Boys Home

The boys and I had a weekend without Nicole and survived. Nicole went back west for Linda's Bat Mitzvah on Friday so the boys and I hung out here and had some fun. We didn't actually do much but they did attend a bowling birthday party on Saturday and we had a basketball game today. It's good to get those kids all to myself every once and a while.

Sent from my iPad

Bowling

I bowled for the first time since my knee replacement and rolled a 156. Not bad for not having bowled for over 10 years due to the instability of the old knee. This was an office party and I beat everyone in all four lanes we had going with that score, which was nice.

No Basketball Practice

Our gym was being used for winter concert. The boys blew off some steam with their light sabers.

ASAE Tech

A technology conference just across the river at the Gaylord at National Harbor, shaving 6 miles off my commute.

Warm Sunday

It as 72 degrees here today and does not feel like December. We had a disappointing loss to Gainesville #1. It was tied at half but we ran out of energy at the end, losing 41-32.

Warm Up

The winter band concert was last night and Dylan did his saxophone thing with the band. They sounded great, much improved over elementary school.

4th Night

3rd Night

Hanukkah kind of crept up on us a bit. We got home late from a basketball game on Sunday but we managed to light the candles on Monday and tonight. The holidays are here.

A Good Win

We traveled up to Haymarket for a game against Gainsville's number two team this afternoon. Gainsville #1 is tough to beat but #2 won all of its games in division 2 last year so moved up with the big boys. Sam had them worried and had to deal with being triple teamed most of the night. He still scored 9 and had 10 rebounds and a steal. Dylan started again and had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Both had solid games and Sam went 4 for 6 at the line which is a huge improvement over last year at this time. The Patriots are 2-1 in league play now. Good start.

Big Deer

Ran into some holiday cheer on the way to the Verizon Center.

Cuse

Syracuse couldn't beat Georgetown today but we had fun watching anyway.

Lights Up

I finished the outdoor lights today. Nothing is more festive than a ton of holiday lights. I think I will keep them up until mid February.

Lee

We played and lost to our nearest rival tonight. We have a couple kids on our team that used to play for Lee District and our point guard and there point guard are best friends. Everyone kinda knows each other. It was a close game 51-45 but we were having trouble from the field and free throws were not falling. Sam had to play against a kid who was actually taller than him. That does not happen often but Sam showed him who the better big man was scoring 10 points and nabbing 12 rebounds. He had some really nice moves underneath. Dylan started for the second game in a row and played great defense. He was tentative to shot at first but worked his way out of it. He also had 4 rebounds. I was happy with the way they played and I think the team learned a thing or two as they prepare for Sunday's game.

Tree Lighting

We were able to pick up the tree and get it all set up on Sunday evening. The house smells like pine again and the it just makes me happy to look at the decorated bush. The boys helped decorate some but they are getting less interested in the whole concept. Maybe I'll make them take everything off the tree in January and them give them the option of decorating or de-decorating next year. Decorating is way easier.

Tree Time

Sam won't get in the reindeer sleigh but Dylan is a trooper. Got our tree at the usual place today and have it all lit up next to the fire.

NIT Basketball

We took in the championship game of the NIT tournament a the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn today. Villanova beat Georgia Tech pretty good but it was fun to see this newish stadium. It has a real nice, open feel to it.

Something Rotten

We saw Something Rotten at the St. James Theater on 44th street Yesterday afternoon. It was pretty funny and good for 13 year old boys. Not real complicated but fun. We are all stuffed from dinner tonight and laying around like overstuffed geese.

St. Marks

A busy St. Marks Place on Thanksgiving 2015.

Look to the Cookie

Sidewalk Art

As seen on 22nd and 9th Avenue, New York City.

Washington Square

We started the morning sorta late but had a nice walk through the village and up to the High Line for 10 blocks. We walked to Chelsea Pier and then stopped for something to drink before heading to Niketown for more shoes for the boys. Katz Deli for dinner and some Warriors basketball before I pass out.

Balthazar

We made great time this morning from DC to NY. A little over 4 hours with a stop for pizza. Had a nice dinner at Balthazar in Soho with everyone, now some rest.

First Game

The boys won their first regular season game tonight against Herndon. It took overtime but we won 47-39. Sam had a good day with 12 points and 21 rebounds. Dylan had to play with an ACE bandage because his wrist brace had metal in it and the refs didn't like it. He had a really nice steal and 3 rebounds.

Sent from my iPad

A/B Honor Students

Now, my school didn't have quarterly honor roll, or an A/B honor roll but I to ably wouldn't have made it anyway. I learned different things in school. I'm very proud of these two.

Tis the Season

Nice fall weekend.

Saturday Night Lights

Lucas, Scott and Melvin's team lost the championship game tonight but played well. It was a chilly game and I'm happy to be in front of the fire at home now.

Braceless

Sam got his braces off this morning. Dylan got his cast off on Wednesday. We are losing lots of medical devices this week.

Fancy Boys

We have successfully completed the third cotillion last night and we had our third dinner with the Lorenger's and Brody's. Those have been really fun too. It also turns out that the Brody's know and live near Pete Davidson, who was Jeff's best friend in high school. Small world.

Paul VI Tournament

We've played this tournament the last three years and didn't win a game the first year. We were 2-1 again this year but we only lost by a few points to an eighth grade division 3 team. It was the third game in five hours and the boys ran out of juice. Sam played 3 really good games with a ton of points, rebounds and blocks. I don't think I've seen him play as well as he did against Burke. They a truly classless team, kids and parents both. Dylan is still sporting a cast but gets it off in a few days. He's looking forward getting back n the game.

Late Cake

We've been so busy the last couple days we didn't make time for cake. We finally got that taken care of.

Birthday Boys

The last soccer game was a 5-0 win against the Red squad. Dylan and Sam played well and had a couple of wicked shots on goals but didn't put one in the net. Sam is going to play in and Dylan is going to watch 3 basketball game tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Boys

We took this crew to a movie and dinner for the boys birthday celebration tonight. The movie theater was nearly empty which was good for squirrelly kids and we had a whole hibachi table to ourselves which is preferable to sharing with strangers. Good times.

Fall Photo

Great Falls

It was raining early today but got nicer so we went on a fall foliage hike along the Potomac in Great Falls. We followed that up a late brunch and a trip to Lowe's for some planting and pruning supplies.

Huesos the Guard

All set for some trick or treaters but not expecting many or really any per previous years experience.

Grandmas in Town

Dinner at the Pub at Wegmans. Not a bad joint for a grocery store.

Morning Fog

We are just past the full moon and yesterday's rains have finally stopped. It's still very tropical feeling out there but a cold front is heading this way and it will be back in my comfort zone by Friday.

Pumpkin Steps

We went to the lorenger's annual Halloween party and pumpkin carving contest last Saturday. We didn't enter a pumpkin but some of them were pretty good.

Counting Down

Not many soccer games and practices left this fall. We are slowly moving into basketball only season.